Project of the Day: A Story of Medical Miracle in Feature 'WONDER DRUG'

By
Srimathi Sridhar
|
IndiewireAugust 1, 2012 at 2:44PM

Here's your daily dose of an indie film in progress; at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite.
In the meantime: Is this a movie you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.
"WONDER DRUG"
Tweetable Logline:
WONDER DRUG is inspired by the true story of DES (diethylstilbestrol), one of the biggest medical disasters in history.
Elevator Pitch:
WONDER DRUG is like THE HOURS, with three intersecting storyline across several decades. It’s inspired by the true story of DES, which was seen as a medical miracle and one of the first cash cows for pharmaceutical companies, but was in fact a toxic, carcinogenic drug and one of the biggest medical disasters in history. DES continues to make headlines around the world, thanks to its chemical cousin BPA and the upcoming huge DES breast cancer trial in Boston this January.
Production Team:
Creative Producer/Star: Alysia Reiner (Screen Actors Guild Award--Outstanding Performance for an Ensemble Cast--playing Christine, Jack's fiancée and then bride, in the Oscar-winning film "Sideways").
Director: Joan Stein Schimke (Nominated for an Academy Award® for her short film "One Day Crossing").
Screenwriter: Caitlin McCarthy (WONDER DRUG was an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation script at the Hamptons Screenwriters Lab and chosen for a live staged reading starring Steve Guttenberg and Alysia Reiner at the 15th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival).
About This Production:
Because the mistakes we do not acknowledge we are doomed to repeat. The script highlights historical issues of control of medicine by pharmaceutical corporations and their government collaborators. And pre-feminism stature of women in society is used as a potent metaphor for the courage needed to live one’s truth and speak up in the face of institutional resistance, abuse, or neglect.
Current Status:
WONDER DRUG is in development and can be made in Boston or NYC (posing as Boston) for under $2M, according to our line producer.
For more information and to support this project: (there is no crowdfunding link)
Film Website

Here's your daily dose of an indie film in progress; at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite.

In the meantime: Is this a movie you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.

"WONDER DRUG"

Tweetable Logline:

WONDER DRUG is inspired by the true story of DES (diethylstilbestrol), one of the biggest medical disasters in history.

Elevator Pitch:

WONDER DRUG is like THE HOURS, with three intersecting storyline across several decades. It’s inspired by the true story of DES, which was seen as a medical miracle and one of the first cash cows for pharmaceutical companies, but was in fact a toxic, carcinogenic drug and one of the biggest medical disasters in history. DES continues to make headlines around the world, thanks to its chemical cousin BPA and the upcoming huge DES breast cancer trial in Boston this January.

Director: Joan Stein Schimke (Nominated for an Academy Award® for her short film "One Day Crossing").

Screenwriter: Caitlin McCarthy (WONDER DRUG was an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation script at the Hamptons Screenwriters Lab and chosen for a live staged reading starring Steve Guttenberg and Alysia Reiner at the 15th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival).

About This Production:

Because the mistakes we do not acknowledge we are doomed to repeat. The script highlights historical issues of control of medicine by pharmaceutical corporations and their government collaborators. And pre-feminism stature of women in society is used as a potent metaphor for the courage needed to live one’s truth and speak up in the face of institutional resistance, abuse, or neglect.

Current Status:

WONDER DRUG is in development and can be made in Boston or NYC (posing as Boston) for under $2M, according to our line producer.

For more information and to support this project: (there is no crowdfunding link)
Film Website

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